Automobile-signal



Patented July 5, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 b MUN W 1 C HOFFMAN AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 192.0.

C. HOFFMAN.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1920.

PatentedJulj 5, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 C. HOFFMAN.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1920.

Patented July 5, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

To all whom it may concern:

, CARL norm/IAN, or ALLENrowN, PEN SYLVANIA- AuroMoBrLE-siGnaL.

Specification of Letters Patent. laitented July 5, 1921 Application filed August 16, 1920. Serial Nb. 403,753. r

h, appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to signals for motor or other vehicles. It is particularly'adapted for indicating to the traflic the direction the vehicle to which it is attached is to take or the fact that such vehicle is about to stop,

and the object of my invention is to provide a simple and highly eflicienttdevice of this character so constructedthat it will occupy but little space in the vehicle and the parts of which are arranged so that a single signal will give notice of a turn to the right or to the left or that a stop is to be made, at the will of the operator, and an additional object of the invention is the provision of means for automatically maintaining the signal in appropriate signal giving position until such time as it pleases the operator to release the signal.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is an elevation showing my improved signal, the parts he ing in non-signaling. position. Fig. 2 shows the signal, in full lines, projected for indieating a left hand turn andin dotted lines for indicating a right turn. Fig; 3 shows the signal arranged for indicating a stop. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the means for automatically maintaining the signal in projected position. Fig. i? is a top plan view of the parts shown in l indicates a supporting post to which, at its upper end, is pivoted a pair of arms 2, 3, which form the actuating means for the signal 4, the latter being of lazy tong form and having at its outer end an indicating member 5 which I have shown in the shape of a hand. The arms 3, 4 are crossed attheir point of pivotal connection with the post 1 and a spring 6 maintains these arms in the position indicated in Fig. 1. An operatin handle, shown as comprising two parts, and 8, pivoted at 9, and respectively connected with the arms 2, 3 is arranged in convenient position for gripping by the driver. The pivotal connection between the arms 3, 4t and the support 1 permits the signal to be turned as a whole aboutthis point sojthat when projected, as indicated in Fig. 2 in full lines, the signalwill extend downwardly so as to indicate that the vehicle is I D T TES TATEN QFFIQE- to turn to -the left. The construction also permits the signal as a whole to be turned into the pos1t1on shown in dotted lines in 2 to indicate a right'turn.

order that the signal may be main tarned 1n projected positmnand to allow the driver of the motor vehicle to have free use of, his hands I provide an automatic lock- 1ng means whlch will'hold the signal in such projected position until freed by the operator. Secured to the support 1 is a bracket 15 having. lateral branches 16 extending .in opposite directions. 3 These branches have slots 17 receiving the lower ends of rods 18- one such rod beinglpivotally hung'on 'a pin 19 projecting laterally-from each of the arms 2, 3. Extending upwardly through appropriate openings in the bottoms of the branches 16and into the slots thereof, are pins 20. Thesepins arefixedly secured to a base plate 21, a coiled spring j 22 betweenthis plate and a collar 23 onthe support lmaintaining the plate in position toinsure projection of its pins wellup into the slots 17andinthe path of the rods 18.

Movement of the arms 2 and 3 so as to proj ect the signal straight out will, tend to draw the lower ends of the:rods-18 toward thesupport 1 thus bringing them into position to be blocked against outward movement by the pins 20. This effectively locksthe signal in this projected position. It may be released by pressure on the plate 21, a lip 24 being conveniently arranged for that purpose or the operator may apply foot pressure to a rod 25 depending from the plate. Pressure so applied to the plate withdraws the pins 20 from the slots and the arms 2 and 3 will then be free to return to normal position under the influence of spring 6. In the event that is not desired to lock the signal in any projected position the plate 21- may be held down against the tension of its spring 22 and with the pins out of blocking position in the slots by a set screw 26 passing through a slot 27 in the rod 25 and into a standard 28 by which the support is carried. When the signal is to be projected upwardly the rod 18 secured to the arm 3 is alone effective for locking the signal in projected position, and when projected downwardly the rod 18 of arm 2 is the locking medium. The twoinner pins 20 are for locking the signal in its farthest extended up or down position.

Suitable illuminating means such as an electric bulb appropriately connected with allows-thepost to be raised or lowered in the standard 287 110 whatever height may be founddesirable. I g

The advantages of myinvention will be apparent. Itis to'be noted that I have pro A duced a very "simple signal which is efiective for indicating all the-necessary signals were trafiic in rear of the car, but a singlesignaling arm being efi'ective'to'thisend. The advantage of having a means for locking the 7 signal in projected position is m nifest.

Frequently the driver of a car needs the use of both hands in making'a turn, andafter he has given the indication of a contemplated turn my device permits him to use both hands in operating thec'ar witholut further thought of signaling to the man in the'rear. After the turn is made the signal is readily returned to its normal position simply pressing on the rod 25 or on the plate to which the rod is attached;

I claim as my invention N p I 7 1. A signal including a support, an exte'nsible signaling member 'pivotially secured to said suppoirt and adapted to be bodily turned on its pivot so as to; project upward or downward when-extended, and m'ean's for actuating said extensible membeawmna it, such means simultaneously turning said member on itsfpivot. a

'2. A signal including'a supporaan extensible signaling member pivotally secured to said support and adapted tobe turned its pivot so as toproject upward or downward when extended, means for maintaining said member in extended upward or downward prO ected position, and means for renderlng saidla's't mentioned means ineiiective.

3. A signal including a support, an extensible member pivotally securedtorsaid supa port, said member being adaptedto b'eextended in a horizontal plane and upward and downward at an angle to said plane from the pivotalg oonnectio nwith said support, means for maintaining said arm'in any extended position, and means for rendering said last' mentioned Inea-ns ineffective.

4'. A signal including a'suppd t r-df 7 spring cont-rolled armspivotally securedto said support, an extensible member of lazy tong form supported and adapted to be actu'ated by said arms'and to be extendedina horizontal plane and upwar'd'and'downwar'd at an angle to said plane, a rod on eachof said arms, "stops with which said rods are designed to engage to maintain said member in extended position, and meansforSuppOrt ing saidstops, such means being operable to disengage'said stoipsand rods to permit return ofsa'id memberjtu normal position;

- 5. A; signalincluding' a support, a "-p'airof spring controlled crossed arm's pivotally secured to saidsu ptman extensible member of lazy tong form supported and' 'adapt'e'd to be actuated by said arms and'to be extended in a horizontal planea'nd upward and downward at anan'gle tols'aid"plane, levers for-op;

arms, stops with which said rods are desi ned to enga e to maintain aid member in extended position, tension'ed' means for supporting such stops, and afoot piece conerating said ar1'1f1s,*-a rod on each of said nected' with such means fo'noperating' the same tordisengagefsaidstops and rods to per; mit return of said member to normal positio'n.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification;

cane HOFFMAN. 

